PHS tennis teams split in Jackson

Panthers eke out 3-2 win, Lady Panthers swept 5-0

Posted Thursday, September 5, 2019 8:05 am

Friday’s road trip to Jackson was a mixed bag for the Powell High School tennis teams, with the Panthers escaping with a 3-2 win and the Lady Panthers the victims of a 5-0 sweep.

“On the girls’ side, there’s some good talent there, and for the most part they’re all working awfully darn hard to get on the win side of things. We just couldn’t quite get through in Jackson,” said PHS tennis coach Joe Asay. “On the boys’ side things went a little better for us.”

Panthers 3, Jackson 2

Panther senior Jesse Brown continued to roll through the opposition in No. 1 singles, dispatching Jackson’s Campbell Gervais in straight sets, 6-0, 6-3 to remain undefeated on the season at 6-0.

“Jesse played great tennis — when he’s not pushed, we look at how well did he execute,” Asay said. “I could see him really processing things and trying to make a good effort there.”

After a week at the No. 1 doubles spot, Dylan Preator returned to the No. 2 singles position. The defending state champion at the position, Preator dropped the first set to Jackson’s Steven Ashurst 6-1; Ashurst had beaten Preator a year ago, going undefeated in the regular season, but Preator regrouped on Friday: The PHS senior won the next two sets 6-1 and 6-3 to take the match.

“Dylan got off to a slow start,” Asay said, but “Dylan dialed things up in the last two sets this time around, finished really well.”

The No. 1 doubles match featured a brand-new pairing in Aaron Jacobsen and Belgian exchange student Justin Vanderbeek. The duo’s first outing didn’t go as they would have hoped, losing in straight sets to Jackson’s Jackson Santamauro and George Gervais 6-3, 6-3.

“Our one doubles both played great tennis against a pretty solid team from Jackson,” Asay said. “It was a chance for Aidan to get out there and make something happen playing with Justin Vanderbeek ...”

The No. 2 doubles team of Grant Dillivan and Ethan Bartholomew took Jackson’s Oliver Jost and Christopher Rosen to three sets before losing 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

“This was the second time of Grant and Ethan playing together, and I saw them really work through some things,” Asay said. “They ended up splitting sets with those guys [Jackson] and just came up short. It was a good, competitive match there.”

With the teams knotted up at 2-2, it came down to the No. 3 doubles team of Jay Cox and Logan Brown to break the tie. The duo did just that, though it took three sets to do it. They dropped the first set to Trey Dykeman and Elliot Sanchez 7-5, then won the next two 7-5, 6-3 to secure the win for the Panthers.

“Jay and Logan were able to dial it up and get it done in the second and third set to win the match,” Asay said.

Jackson 5, Lady Panthers 0

It was a rougher go on the girls’ side for Powell, who were swept 5-0 for the second straight match. Senior Sloane Asay and junior Ashley Dunkerley faced formidable opponents at No. 1 and No. 2 singles in the form of Hyla Chatham (6-1, 6-1) and Valerie Stevenson (6-1, 6-3).

“Sloane and Ashley are just continually out there battling, playing good tennis,” coach Asay said. “They just can’t string enough of the right points together to get the games won.”

At No. 1 doubles, Hailee Paul and Sophe Morrow fell in straight sets to Jackson’s Anna Revill and Megan Tucker 6-1, 6-2.

Powell’s Sami Cole and Sydnee Thompson gave Jackson’s Sam Fairbanks and Tashi Ferris all they could handle before falling in three sets 6-4, 4-6, 6-1.

“That was a fun match with Sami and Sydnee, two scrappy little players,” Asay said. “They were anticipating things well together, I’d just like to see them play a little bit more aggressively.”

Kaili Wisniewski was without normal No. 3 doubles partner Whitney Hull against Jackson, playing instead with freshman Lila Asay. The pair fell to Jackson 7-5, 6-0.

The PHS tennis teams are back in action today (Thursday), hosting cross-county rival Cody in a rematch from last week. This time, the match will count in the conference standings.

“It will be a big day for us, so it’s nice we had a chance to see what Cody has to offer last week,” Asay said. “Hopefully we’ll be ready to get out and get after it.”